Gardeners can 'Plant a Row for the Hungry'

Friday

May 30, 2014 at 6:30 PM

By Andrea.Goodell@HollandSentinel.com(616) 546-4275

To enjoy food fresh from the garden is a special pleasure not every family can afford. This summer, the Ottawa County Food Policy Council is reaching out to churches and others, looking for gardeners willing to “Plant a Row for the Hungry.”Canned fruits and vegetables are a staple of food pantries, and they are appreciated, but the fresh variety is healthier and harder to come by, said Amy Oosterink, a wellness educator with Ottawa County.“We also want people to have healthy food to eat,” she said.The Ottawa County Food Policy Council launched the “Plant a Row for the Hungry” campaign in the Holland — and Zeeland — areas to help provide nutritious food to food pantries and group homes for adults with disabilities.A letter to be sent out to area churches this week will encourage church leaders to seek out to the gardeners among their flock. The letters will come with row markers to be given to those gardeners as a reminder to donate their fruit, vegetables and herbs.Donated produce is tax-deductible. The letters will also include sample receipts that will be given when produce is donated and brochures explaining the program.“Many of these organizations run on small budgets and rely heavily on donations,” the letter states, “plus without the produce given by local gardeners, the quality of many people’s diets suffers.”It encourages churches with community gardens to make it a group effort and donate a portion of the harvest to Plant a Row for the Hungry.The national program has been around since 1995 and offers the brochures, sample receipts and row markers to communities free of charge.“Plant a Row for the Hungry is a people-helping-people program to assist in feeding those who are hungry in our communities,” said Mary Grillo, Ottawa County Food Policy Council member.For details or to obtain a packet, contact Grillo at ottawaplantarow@yahoo.com.— Follow this reporter on Facebook and on Twitter, @SentinelAndrea.